Talladega in Talladega County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Auburn University And Birmingham-Southern College Began In Talladega, 1854

Photographed By Tim Carr, January 18, 2009

1. Auburn University And Birmingham-Southern College Began In Talladega, 1854 Marker

Inscription. By action of the Alabama Conference of The Methodist Episcopal Church, South in session at Talladega, December 13-18, 1854, Auburn University and Birmingham - Southern College were born. The delegation resolved to “have a college within the bounds of our Conference.” While the intent was to start a single college by and for the Methodist Church, intense rivalry between eastern and western sections of the state over the location of the school resulted in two institutions: the East Alabama Male College in Auburn and Southern University in Greensboro. Both schools were chartered by the state legislature in 1856, and both struggled to survive during the Civil War.

The College at Auburn was transferred from the Church to the state in 1872, and it became the land-grant Agricultural & Mechanical College of Alabama. In 1899, its name was changed to the Alabama Polytechnic Institute and, in 1960, to Auburn University.

Southern University at Greensboro merged with Birmingham College in 1918 to form Birmingham - Southern College, maintaining a church - related status from its beginning to the present.

Erected 2006 by Alabama Historical Association.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion

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• Education • Government & Politics. In addition, it is included in the Alabama Historical Association series list. A significant historical date for this entry is December 13, 2009.

Location. 33° 25.962′ N, 86° 6.073′ W. Marker is in Talladega, Alabama, in Talladega County. Marker is at the intersection of South Street East (State Highway 77) and East Street South, on the right when traveling east on South Street East. Marker located on the grounds of the Talladega First United Methodist Church. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 400 East Street South, Talladega AL 35160, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Battle Of Talladega (approx. 0.2 miles away); USS Talladega (APA-208) (approx. 0.2 miles away); Talladega Courthouse Square Historic District (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Joiner Family (approx. 0.7 miles away); Presbyterian Home For Children (approx. 0.8 miles away); Mardisville (approx. 4.7 miles away); Jackson Trace (approx. 4.7 miles away); Battle of Munford (approx. 10.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Talladega.

Photographed By Tim Carr, January 18, 2009

2. Auburn University And Birmingham-Southern College Began In Talladega, 1854 Marker

Marker located on the grounds of the Talladega First United Methodist Church near the bell tower. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Tim Carr, January 18, 2009

3. Marker located on the grounds of the Talladega First United Methodist Church near the bell tower.

Auburn University's Samford Hall, built in 1888 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Tim Carr, April 8, 2005

4. Auburn University's Samford Hall, built in 1888

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on March 5, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. This page has been viewed 2,555 times since then and 54 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 5, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.